Family Relationships in Walking Away and Eden Rock.
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Family Relationships in Eden Rock and Walking AwayBoth poems, Eden Rock and Walking Away, are nostalgic poems that explore the perspectives of a parent-child relationship during separation. Both writers use a variety of features (including structure, language, rhyming scheme and form) to represent the separation and distance in a relationship in common and contrasting ways.Firstly, both poems show the separation in a parent-child relationship; however, in Walking Away the parent struggles to let go whilst in Eden Rock it seems mutually pleasant. In Walking Away, the son is described as a âhalf-fledged thingâ which could show the vulnerability and fragility of the child as âhalf-fledgedâ could indicate to the reader that the father doesnât believe that the son is ready for the change yet. However, âhalf-fledged thingâ refers to a young bird; therefore, the natural imagery could remind the reader that nature also separates their parents from their children when the latter reach maturity. Furthermore, the separation is described âlike a satellite wrenched from its orbit.â The simile suggests that the child is a small being that is attached to the parent by a gravitational pull. The strong verb âwrenchedâ demonstrates to the reader the difficult and unnatural nature of the parting which implies the suffering experienced by the father. The verb âwrenchedâ also has connotations of danger which could convey to the reader that the child is no longer dependent on the father. Additionally, the father says that it still âgnaws at my mindâ which could show the pain experienced by the father of the distance between them and the child. The verb âgnawsâ amplifies the torment showing the deeply affected nature of the father suggesting to the reader that it is a raw and vivid memory. Conversely, in Eden Rock the sky is described to have âthree sunsâ which is surreal imagery which could indicate the fact that they may be in heaven. Since Causley was a religious person, the âthree sunsâ could be a dream-like symbol representing the Holy Trinity in Christianity. This may imply that the speaker thinks that his parents are slightly angelic or it could emphasise the love and respect he has for his parents. The euphemistic âcrossingâ which he âhad not thought it would be like thisâ could indicate that Causley is filled with joy and peace that his parents are waiting for him â death should not be feared. Also, Causley uses deliberate ambiguity as it says âitâ which could imply the desire and longing nature of the speaker to be reconnected with his parents. Some may argue that âitâ could convey the notions of life and death; therefore, some may say that the poem is an extended metaphor of death. Nonetheless, there is a sense of reconciliation with the separation in Eden Rock and the peace experienced after that reconciliation. In this way both poets use contrasting imagery to present different viewpoints; whilst Causley presents peace, Day-Lewis portrays the pain and suffering experienced. Secondly, both poems portray the idea of saudade by employing vivid imagery. In Eden Rock, Causley uses a series of precise details to describe the parents and the scene. The father wore a âsuit of Genuine Irish Tweedâ which indicates how they took incredible care over their presentation. Capitalising âGenuine Irish Tweedâ emphasises the bond between him and the father and could also show to the reader that the speaker is missing that connection. Also the mother had âspread the stiff white clothâ which conveys to the reader the specific nature of the memory. The use of the verb âspreadâ portrays that it was a memory rather than just a picture. Furthermore, the use of the colour âwhiteâ shows the innocence and purity of the mother in his memory which provides her with perfect and idyllic qualities.  However, the colour âwhiteâ could also present the speakerâs sadness as he misses the family. Additionally, her hair is described as âthe colour of wheatâ which could emphasise her angelic nature. The use of the âwheatâ colour can provide the motherly idea of nourishment and nutrition as âwheatâ is a staple foods in multiple diets across the world. In addition, the use of the mundane object âthermosâ could demonstrate that the speaker has attached special qualities to the everyday artefacts of life which amplifies the beauty of simplicity. The precision of the memory could demonstrate the close bond between the parent and the child and how he misses being with them. Nonetheless, some people may argue that the concrete nature of the memory could show the possible frightened nature of the speaker as he doesnât want to forget his parents. This all shows Causleyâs melancholic feeling of missing his parents due to the distance between them. Similarly, in Walking Away towards the end of the poem the fatherâs opinion changes as Day-Lewis describes the child âlike a winged seed loosened from its parent stem,â which could show more acceptance from the father. This may be due the fact that Cecil Day-Lewis was also put into boarding school from a young age; therefore, he understand the need for the forced separation and can sympathise with the son and the emotions that he is experiencing. The verb âloosenedâ juxtaposes the verb âwrenchedâ from the first stanza which reiterates the more understanding nature of the father. Additionally, the use of natural element of a âseedâ could show the inevitability of this. Nonetheless, the father says he can ânever quite grasp to conveyâ which demonstrates to the reader that it is still difficult to let go even though it is natural. The father refers to this as a âsmall, the scorching ordeals which fireâs oneâs irresolute clay.â There is a strong juxtaposition of âsmallâ and âscorchingâ conveying that even though it may seem little and insignificant it is a very painful experience. Also, the noun âordealsâ shows the despair felt by the father and the challenge of the separation. However, âordealsâ may also show the inevitability and the inescapability of the separation. âFireâs oneâs irresolute clayâ suggests that the separation makes the child stronger. The use of the adjective âirresoluteâ could indicate to the reader that it will help the child to become more independent and become more himself. The adjective âhalf-fledgedâ juxtaposes the adjective âirresoluteâ which implies the maturity of the child. One may also say that âirresoluteâ that the child is no longer malleable and that the father can no longer shape him which indicates Day-Lewisâ of sadness during the distance. Causley and Day-Lewis convey the sadness due to the distance and separation.
Essay About Use Of The Verb And Eden Rock
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Latest Update: July 20, 2021
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